Another One Bites the Dust

Monday

May 12, 2014 at 6:35 PMMay 12, 2014 at 7:15 PM

Now its the turn of Christine Legarde in the barrel. The head of the IMF won’t be giving the commencement speaker at Smith College, because, according to the on line petition against her “Lagarde represents a corrupt system that fuels the the oppression and abuse of women worldwide.” Really? Its actually been amazing how important the IMF has been in furthering women’s rights around the world, and its an amazing tribute to Legarde that the glass ceiling has been so thoroughly broken in the realm of international finance.

But there are two more important issues here: first, when did college campuses become hostage to small terrorist groups, such that internationally recognized human rights advocates, a retired secretary of state and the head of the IMF are too controversial to be allowed on college campuses? And doesn’t it seem weird that all of three of these people, who have been denied their opportunity to address the students, are women? What is it about the American left that on one hand it screams about sexism, and on the other than it targets successful and well-known women for derision?

This trend is disturbing, and it would be nice, just once, if one university president would fight for the right of the administration to select a graduation speaker over the objections of a vocal minority. Don Sterling anyone?

Now its the turn of Christine Legarde in the barrel. The head of the IMF won’t be giving the commencement speaker at Smith College, because, according to the on line petition against her “Lagarde represents a corrupt system that fuels the the oppression and abuse of women worldwide.” Really? Its actually been amazing how important the IMF has been in furthering women’s rights around the world, and its an amazing tribute to Legarde that the glass ceiling has been so thoroughly broken in the realm of international finance.

But there are two more important issues here: first, when did college campuses become hostage to small terrorist groups, such that internationally recognized human rights advocates, a retired secretary of state and the head of the IMF are too controversial to be allowed on college campuses? And doesn’t it seem weird that all of three of these people, who have been denied their opportunity to address the students, are women? What is it about the American left that on one hand it screams about sexism, and on the other than it targets successful and well-known women for derision?

This trend is disturbing, and it would be nice, just once, if one university president would fight for the right of the administration to select a graduation speaker over the objections of a vocal minority. Don Sterling anyone?